The Valley of the Kings in China

Let me just say that the Ming Tomb Complex is amazing. After walking through the Great Red Gate, complete with a huge statute of a turtle carrying the weight of the world on his back, we arrived on the Sacred Way, a long paved path flanked by 36 enormous elaborately carved beings, both mythical and real, whose sole job is to protect the 13 Ming Emperors buried at the site. Percy convinced Roy to take this picture of a royal court official. There is something about his imposing stare that really strikes me. It's like he is channeling Confucius, "the wise man in his attitude towards the world has neither predilections nor prejudices. He is on the side of what is right."

After leaving the Spirit Way we investigated Emperor Zhu Di's mausoleum. The vast structure is supported by mammoth solid beams, which constitute the last remnants of a tree species that was harvested to extinction hundreds of years ago. The wood was rumored to resist rot and repel insects. Perhaps it is no rumor as these beams have stood for more than 700 years.

Once we left the Emperor we climbed to the top of his observation tower to behold the Chinese Valley of the Kings! There are 10 completely unexcavated tombs across this hillside. No digging will be permitted until the technology exists to preserve anything archaeologists might find below. While I respect that point of view, staring at the mountain was a bit of a tease. Sort of like being invited to smell a pizza when you know full well you can't eat it because you are "in training."